Best Retail Stocks To Own For 2014

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) ��Losses from Internet stocks largely overshadowed gains from Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Monday as declines from Amazon.com Inc. stood out following the e-commerce giant�� latest business forecasts.

Bloomberg Amazon stock is down more than 10% since the company reported earnings Thursday.

Amazon (AMZN) �came back from its session lows, but fell by 2.4% to close at $296.58. It was the first time the online-retailer�� stock closed below $300 a share since Sept. 16, 2013. Amazon�� shares have fallen more than 10% since the company reported first-quarter results on Thursday. Amazon gave an upbeat first-quarter report, but said its expenses are going to increase as its spends more on delivery services and new technology products such as its Amazon Fire TV set-top box.

10 Best Oil Stocks To Watch For 2015: McDonald's Corporation(MCD)

McDonald?s Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a worldwide foodservice retailer. It franchises and operates McDonald?s restaurants that offer various food items, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages. As of December 31, 2009, the company operated 32,478 restaurants in 117 countries, of which 26,216 were operated by franchisees; and 6,262 were operated by the company. McDonald?s Corporation was founded in 1948 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Abbvie (ABBV)
  Ameren Corp. (AEE)
  Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG)
  E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DD)
  ENSCO (ESV)
  Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD)
  General Mills (GIS)
  H&R Block (HRB)
  Hancock Holding (HBHC)
  Kraft Foods Group (KRFT)
  Lorillard (LO)
  Magellan Midstream Partners LP (MMP)
  MarkWest Energy Partners L P (MWE)
  McDonald’s (MCD)
  Microchip Technology (MCHP)
  NextEra Energy (NEE)
  Regency Centers (REG)
  TELUS Corp. (TU)
  West Corp. (WSTC)
  Williams Companies (WMB)

• [By WALLSTCHEATSHEET]

  McDonald�� provides highly demanded food items to significant amounts of consumers who enjoy their items around the world. The stock has done very well for investors of the last several years and is now trading at all-time high prices. Earnings and revenue figures have done reasonably well, however, investors have expected a little more from the company. Relative to its strong peers and sector, McDonald’s has been a performance leader, year-to-date. Look for McDonald’s to continue to OUTPERFORM.

Best Retail Stocks To Own For 2014: Lands End Inc (LE)

Lands��End, Inc. (Lands��End), incorporated on August 19, 1986, is a multi-channel retailer of casual clothing, accessories and footwear, as well as home products. The Company offers products through catalogs, online at www.landsend.com and affiliated specialty and international Websites, and through retail locations, primarily at Lands��End Shops at Sears and standalone Lands��End Inlet stores. The Company operates in two segments: Direct and Retail, and it offers merchandise that includes men��, women�� and kids��apparel, outerwear and swimwear; specialty apparel; accessories; footwear; and home products. In addition, Lands��End Business Outfitters offers business casual apparel and a variety of promotional products that can be embroidered to enhance a partner company�� image. The Lands��End School Uniform business provides school uniforms and school-appropriate clothing designed to meet dress-code requirements.

Lands��End Direct

The Company�� Direct business sells its products through its United States and international e-commerce websites and through direct mail catalogs. The customers can choose from several ordering methods- Internet, phone, mail, or in-store computer kiosks. The Company also offers specialty services, such as monogramming, embroidery and hemming pants to length. It also operates three call centers out of Dodgeville, Reedsburg and Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Its customer care representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 364 days a year. The Company�� apparel sales include men��, women�� and kids��apparel, footwear and accessories. It offers a full range of fits from Petites to Plus for women, Slim to Husky for kids and Big and Tall for men. The Company�� Lands��End Canvas collection focuses on updating the Lands��End heritage pieces with tailored fits, designs and fabrics throughout the line. Through its Lands��End Business Outfitters and School Uniform businesses, it offers tailored and busi! ness casual apparel for office wear, trade shows and company events and uniforms and school-appropriate clothing designed to meet dress-code requirements.

Lands��End Retail

The Company�� Retail business sells products and services through standalone Lands��End Inlet stores and dedicated Lands��End Shops at Sears across the United States. Each Lands��End Shop at Sears features Lands��End products, personalized service, enhanced visuals and a shopping lounge where customers can search all of its offerings through the Internet and its catalog. The Company�� Lands��End Shops at Sears offer a selection of products for men, women and kids and select stores offer footwear and products for the home.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Matt Egan]

  Last month, Sears revealed its ninth straight quarterly loss amid deep discounting. The company was forced to raise $500 million earlier this year by spinning off Lands' End (LE).

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  Jeff Greenberg/Alamy Now that all of the gifts have been unwrapped, you have three choices: use the present because you really do like it, put it in the back of the closet because you'll never use it but you may regift it next year, or return it. The National Retail Federation says more than $58-billion worth of gifts were returned last year. If you received something that doesn't fit, or just isn't you, there's no need to rush back to the store and do battle with all of the people looking for post-Christmas bargains. You have a little bit of time, but you have to know the rules -- and the rules differ from store to store and from one item to the next. If you have a receipt or a gift receipt, the return process is a whole lot easier. A survey by the NRF found 68 percent of the respondents say they included a gift receipt some or most of the time. You may still need to check the fine print on each retailer's website, but we'll lay out the basic policies for many of the largest chains. Most stores give you at least 30 days to make returns, and the clock does not start running until Dec. 26. Some offer 90 days, and some -- mostly high-end department stores -- are even more liberal with their policies. But there are also stricter rules and exceptions, especially when it comes to electronics, computers, digital cameras and other items. The return window for these items is only open for 15 days at some stores, and almost all stores insist that these items not be opened and that you bring it back with all of the original packing. Some stores charge restocking fees on these items. The motive behind these restrictions is to reduce fraud, which cost retailers more than $9 billion last year. How Big Chains Behave Let's start with the biggest retailer, Walmart (WMT). It gives you 90 days on most items, including electronics, but there is a fairly long list of exceptions that could be subject to as little as 15 days. Computer software, books, movies and video games mus

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  If Land’s End (LE) proved anything with its financial results today, it’s that it’s not Sears (SHLD).

  ZUMAPRESS.com

  Remember: Land’s End was spun off from Sears back in April, as CEO Eddie Lampert continued to pare back non-core assets, though a better term for those assets might be “the good stuff.”

  And that term appears appropriate for Land’s End following today’s financial results. Land’s End reported a profit of 37 cents a share, up from 35 cents a year earlier, while sales grew by more than 5% to $347.2 million. (When Sears last reported in August, its sales fell 9.7%, while reporting a loss of $573 million.)

  Investors rejoiced. Shares of Land’s End have jumped 21% to $40.39, a new all-time high, and even Sears is getting in on the fun. It’s shares have gained 2.2% to $33.63 at 3:42 p.m.

Best Retail Stocks To Own For 2014: AutoZone Inc.(AZO)

AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company?s stores offer various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its automotive hard parts product line includes A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, belts and hoses, carburetors, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition, lighting, mufflers, starters and alternators, water pumps, radiators, and thermostats. The company?s maintenance items include antifreeze and windshield washer fluid; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; chemicals, including brake and power; steering fluid, oil, and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paint and accessories; refrigerant and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wiper s. Its discretionary product line comprises air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products. The company also offers commercial sales program that provides the delivery of parts and other products to local, regional, and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. In addition, it sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software through the Website, alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through the Website, autozone.com. As of May 7, 2011, the company operated 4,467 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and 261 stores in Mexico. AutoZone, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jon C. Ogg]

  AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO)
  > Cost for 100 shares: $44,000

  Does the great auto parts seller named AutoZone remind you of a stock that would trade above $400 per share? With its shares around $440, it has a 52-week trading range of $341.98 to $452.19. This industry leader has a $15.6 billion market capitalization as well. AutoZone has split its stock on a two-for-one basis twice, but back in 1994 and 1992. In today’s share price terms, that most recent split was around $27 back then, and that means its stock has risen sixteenfold since then. How many customers going into an AutoZone would think that a stock price of $440 or so seems right? We do not even see a dividend from AutoZone as it reinvests earnings into growth.

• [By Geoff Gannon] >Dun and Bradstreet (DNB) are examples. All have great track records for business and stock price growth long term so this appears to be a strategic decision to finance through debt rather than equity. My question is at what point can an investor judge that this practice is no longer creating value but adding risk to the investment? There can obviously be too much leverage. However when money is cheap to borrow and ROIC is high this seems like a great way to create value for shareholders, to just borrow at 3% and buy stock with an ROIC over 20%, but how much is too much?

  Thank you,

• [By WWW.DAILYFINANCE.COM]

  www.netflix.com From a fast-growing maker of luxury purses hoping to bag another blowout quarter to the country's leading streaming video service rolling out another exclusive series, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street. Monday -- We Remember It's Memorial Day, and that means that all of the stateside exchanges are closed. Of course, there will be international stocks trading. But whether you honor the spirit of the Memorial Day holiday or just see it as the start of summer and a good excuse to fire up the barbecue, there's no reason to be glued to CNBC. Your investments can wait. Tuesday -- Checking Under the Hood The auto parts industry has proven to be an all-weather niche. When the economy's humming along, folks are spending money on their cars. When the economy's in a funk, drivers hold on to their cars longer, and that requires more money invested in maintaining their aging vehicles. It's against this backdrop that AutoZone (AZO) reports quarterly results on Tuesday morning. Analysts see sales climbing 6 percent higher with earnings per share soaring 16 percent. The 4,871-store chain has beaten Wall Street's profit targets every quarter over the past year, so let's not assume that analysts are being generous with their forecasts. Wednesday -- Kors of Action Michael Kors (KORS) continues to be the growth darling when it comes to luxury handbags. As the iconic Coach (COH) has struggled, Kors has taken market share with its fashionable purses, satchels and other accessories. It's not even close. Analysts see Coach's sales declining 6 percent for its fiscal year ending in June. Wall Street sees Kors growing its business by 47 percent for its fiscal year that ended in March. We'll know for sure how Kors wrapped up fiscal 2014 when it reports on Wednesday. Thursday -- Big Savings in Bulk Another retailing niche that has seemed to have the same all-weather appeal as auto parts is the warehouse club m

Best Retail Stocks To Own For 2014: Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd (SAXJF)

Sa Sa International Holdings Limited is an investment holding company. The Company�� subsidiaries are principally engaged in the retailing and wholesaling of cosmetic products. Its business covers Hong Kong and Macau, Mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. The Company operates in two segments: retail segment, engaged in the operation of cosmetics specialty stores, which offer a variety of products from over 600 beauty brands, covering a wide of products from skin care, fragrance, make-up, body care and hair care to health foods, and brand management segment, engaged in the management of over 100 beauty brands. It also offers round-the-clock online shopping services along with product and corporate information through its e-commerce platform, sasa.com. The Company�� subsidiaries include Alibaster Management Limited, Base Sun Investment Limited, Cyber Colors Limited, Docile Company Limited and Elegance Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, among others. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By WWW.MARKETWATCH.COM]

  HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Hong Kong stocks swung between small gains and losses early Thursday after hitting a seven-month high in the previous session, with the Hang Seng Index (HK:HSI) down less than 0.1%. Most mainland Chinese property developers outperformed the markets, with Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. (HK:2777) (GZUHF) rallying 3.4%, after the company reported a 44% month-on-month jump in sales for June. Shimao Property Holdings Ltd. (HK:0813) (SIOPF) climbed 2.6%, and China Resources Land Ltd. (HK:1109) (CRBJF) rose 1.7%. However, several retailers were weak, as Want Want China Holdings Ltd. (HK:0151) (WWNTF) , the country's top food and beverage maker, declined 2%. Hong Kong-based cosmetics brand Sa Sa International Holdings (HK:0178) (SAXJF) fell 1.6%, with a decline in Chinese June non-manufacturing data helping weigh on some retailers. Over on the Chinese mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index (CN:SHCOMP) retreated 0.4%, pulling back from its highest close in two weeks.

Best Retail Stocks To Own For 2014: WH Smith PLC (SMWH)

WH Smith PLC is a United Kingdom-based retail company. The Company has two businesses divisions: Travel and High Street. The Company's Travel division sells a range of newspapers, magazines, books and impulse products for people on the move and a broader convenience range in hospitals and workplaces. The Company's High Street sells a wide range of stationery, books, newspapers, magazines and impulse products, as well as a small range of entertainment products.The Company�� subsidiaries include WH Smith PLC, WH Smith Retail Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Holdings Limited, WH Smith Travel Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Limited, WH Smith Travel Limited and WH Smith Hospitals Holdings Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Hays Plc (HAS) climbed 2.2 percent after the recruitment company said quarterly fees increased in its European markets. WH Smith Plc (SMWH) jumped the most in six months after raising its final dividend and saying it plans to repurchase an additional 50 million pounds ($80 million) of shares. Melrose Industries Plc (MRO) added 1.8 percent after KKR & Co. said it will pay about $1 billion for two of its U.S. industrial-products companies.

Best Retail Stocks To Own For 2014: Starbucks Corporation(SBUX)

Starbucks Corporation purchases and roasts whole bean coffees. It operates approximately 16,858 stores, including 8,833 company-operated stores and 8,025 licensed stores. The company offers approximately 30 blends and single-origin premium arabica coffees. It also provides handcrafted beverages, such as fresh-brewed coffee, hot and iced espresso beverages, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages, Vivanno smoothies, and Tazo teas; and merchandise products, including home espresso machines, coffee brewers and grinders, coffee mugs and accessories, packaged goods, music, books, and gift items. In addition, it offers fresh food items, which comprise baked pastries, sandwiches, salads, oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, and fruit cups. Further, it also provides VIA ready brew coffee, bottled frappuccino beverages, discoveries chilled cup coffee, doubleshot espresso drinks, iced coffee, whole bean coffee, and ice creams. The company?s brand portfolio includes Tazo tea, Ethos water, Seatt le?s Best Coffee, and Torrefazione Italia Coffee. Starbucks Corporation sells its products in approximately 50 countries worldwide. Starbucks Corporation was founded in 1971 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Alanna Petroff]

  The European Commission published details of its case Tuesday after announcing in June that it was probing tax arrangements between Apple (AAPL, Tech30) and Ireland, and Starbucks (SBUX) and the Netherlands.

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  In the past, most M&A speculation regarding SodaStream has centered on potential strategic partnerships (Coca-Cola (KO), PepsiCo (PEP), Starbucks (SBUX)). However, with Coca-Cola’s equity stake in Keurig Green Mountain (GMCR), PepsiCo’s bruited alliance with Bevyz and Starbucks moving into the fizzy drink space themselves, each of these strategic partnerships has seemed increasingly unlikely to us. However, given the still-robust outlook in our view for the at-home carbonation category, we can see why private equity might be interested in playing a role. We also consider the timing to be attractive from a potential acquirer’s perspective given that SodaStream is trading at less than 10x 2013 EBITDA owing to its recent execution slip-ups and investor anxiety about increasing competition in the category. Further, given both SodaStream’s unleveraged balance sheet and the outlook for stronger profit margins ahead as the company’s new manufacturing facility is set to come online next year, we think that raising debt to fund an LBO of the business would be relatively easy to do.

• [By Gregory Wallace and Charles Riley]

  Most have ended their relationship with the company or stopped selling its products. Among them are Yum Brands (YUM) (owner of KFC and Pizza Hut), Burger King (BKW), Papa John's (PZZA) and Starbucks (SBUX).